News

How many ACT Public Servants will salary package their bus use?

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has announced the thrilling news that slaray packaging of bus fares is kicking off for the ACT PS from 1 June 2011.

From 1 June 2011 the ACT Government will provide ACT Public Service employees and their families an incentive to get on the bus and reduce their travel costs with plans to provide access to salary packaging for ACTION bus fares outlined in Estimates today by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher MLA.

“I am very pleased to announce this important initiative which will see ACT Public Service employees save up to between $300 and $400 a year on the cost of public transport for travel between home and work,” Ms Gallagher said.

“As the second biggest employer in Canberra with a workforce of nearly 20,000 this is a significant commitment to our employees and the community.”

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“In addition to providing savings to ACT public servants and their families, the introduction of this initiative will also hopefully see greater patronage on our buses which in turn will lessen the carbon footprint of the ACT.”

What’s Your opinion?

Perhaps she should spend some of this money on making sure buses are cleaned, maintained, run on time, and actually show up for those willing to use them…

While I agree that ACTION services are terrible, I think you’re confused about salary sacrifice. There is no extra money from the ACT government in this announcement. They’re merely allowing staff to use pre-tax dollars to pay for bus tickets. Total salary spend should stay the same for the government.

What about the FBT? Also, it’s a reduction in the federal government’s tax income, which has an indirect effect the ACT’s budget and a direct effect on those of us who aren’t able to access such a scheme.

Let’s get Katie on the peak hour bus to work with no seat and bus jam packed and stuck in traffic jam on Northbourne Ave. Let’s see if she has to get off to stop passing out. Let’s see if she gets some creepy guy rubbing up against her leg. Or maybe she can’t stand up for the car park of peak hour traffic and has to sit in the stairway. Yeah let’s go public transport. That’s if it even turns up. And then let’s dock her pay for not being there on time! Better add flags for data mining ACTION.

Geez people, no one is forcing anyone to catch a bus! Isn’t it just an extra option for people to consider, if they want? And who knows, maybe if more people used the bus they’d actually get serious and sort out the mess into a more useable service?!?
The first reaction to an announcement shouldn’t always be a complaint or negative reaction. If it is, then it’s distressing that the world is such a sad place for most people….

Let’s get Katie on the peak hour bus to work with no seat and bus jam packed and stuck in traffic jam on Northbourne Ave. Let’s see if she has to get off to stop passing out. Let’s see if she gets some creepy guy rubbing up against her leg. Or maybe she can’t stand up for the car park of peak hour traffic and has to sit in the stairway. Yeah let’s go public transport. That’s if it even turns up. And then let’s dock her pay for not being there on time! Better add flags for data mining ACTION.

So she is pushing the PS onto the overcrowded, under facilitated, and useless public transport system.
After that the next step will be to continue ignoring the obvious transport problem staring them in the face – because it would be too hard to fix the problem!

Perhaps she should spend some of this money on making sure buses are cleaned, maintained, run on time, and actually show up for those willing to use them…

Why bother, when the government can simply make parking more expensive ‘to encourage the use of public transport’?

Perhaps she should spend some of this money on making sure buses are cleaned, maintained, run on time, and actually show up for those willing to use them…

While I agree that ACTION services are terrible, I think you’re confused about salary sacrifice. There is no extra money from the ACT government in this announcement. They’re merely allowing staff to use pre-tax dollars to pay for bus tickets. Total salary spend should stay the same for the government.

So she is pushing the PS onto the overcrowded, under facilitated, and useless public transport system.
After that the next step will be to continue ignoring the obvious transport problem staring them in the face – because it would be too hard to fix the problem!

Perhaps she should spend some of this money on making sure buses are cleaned, maintained, run on time, and actually show up for those willing to use them…

And perhaps the use of bus shelters would be a good thing. Up north (near you Al) there are very few bus shelters built…………….so, the choice between going to work in a warm car or standing the sleet and snow during the winter is a real hard one. Gee, what to do…..???

So she is pushing the PS onto the overcrowded, under facilitated, and useless public transport system.
After that the next step will be to continue ignoring the obvious transport problem staring them in the face – because it would be too hard to fix the problem!

Perhaps she should spend some of this money on making sure buses are cleaned, maintained, run on time, and actually show up for those willing to use them…